Common Bitrates Reference
Reference guide for ProRes, DNxHD, DCP, and MPEG bitrates
How to use Common Bitrates Reference
- 1Pick the delivery target: streaming, broadcast, disc, or mastering.
- 2Pick the resolution and frame rate you will use.
- 3Read the typical bitrate range and choose one that balances quality and bandwidth.
Common video bitrates by use case
Reference only: 1080p ≈ 5–8 Mbps (H.264), 4K ≈ 15–25 Mbps (H.264), lower with H.265/AV1Bitrate tables give starting points; the right value depends on codec, motion complexity, and acceptable artifact levels.
Streaming services use adaptive bitrate ladders; disc and broadcast have stricter standards like Blu-ray or ATSC.
Frequently asked questions
Why do tables vary so much?
They assume different codecs and content; fast action needs more bits than static talking heads.
Is higher bitrate always better?
Up to a point; beyond it you waste bandwidth for invisible gains.
What about H.265/AV1?
They hit the same quality at roughly half the H.264 bitrate.